One of the great things about going to a country visited by some 45 million other sun-, history-, culture- and pleasure-seekers annually (most of them British, German and Russian), is the sheer diversity of accommodation on offer that has sprung up to meet demand. And in Turkey, where hoteliers are finding endless new ways to capture the attention of discerning travellers, the bar is constantly being pushed higher.
After a day spent following one’s nose around Istanbul’s famous kebab houses, dizzying fresh produce markets and outsized baklava shops, a serene spa hotel offering treatments inspired by traditional hammam rituals would seem a very good idea. In Antalya, while grown-ups might roll their eyes over the kitsch-factor of a Moscow-themed all-inclusive resort complete with a replica Red Square, the kids will be too busy zipping down the water slide to care. Be it luxury barefoot living on the Aegean, drifting off to sleep in a cave-ensconced former Byzantine monastery or exploring the wild Black Sea coast’s moody vistas from the comfort of your hotel’s private boat, the properties on our list really deliver. These are the best hotels in Turkey to book now.
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1. The Peninsula Istanbul
The Peninsula Istanbul
BOOKING.COM
£££ | SPA | POOL | Best for foodies
Opened in February 2023 on a prime waterfront location in the heart of Istanbul, this offering from the Hong Kong-based chain includes all the attention to detail that the brand is known for. Three historic buildings have been lovingly restored and joined together and a fourth added on, resulting in a hotel that is both tastefully harmonious and quirky. The show-stopping lobby is a destination in itself, where you can take afternoon tea with the city’s best view of the historic peninsula, while up on the roof you’ll find a restaurant serving Central Asian-inspired cuisine.
• Read our full review of Peninsula Istanbul
• More great hotels in Istanbul
2. Six Senses Kocatas Mansions, Istanbul
Kocatas Mansions
BRITISH AIRWAYS HOLIDAYS
£££ | SPA | POOL | Best for the jet set
For a different Istanbul experience, hop on this hotel’s private boat and up to the Sariyer district, close to the Black Sea, where the rich and glamorous live in ornate waterside mansions behind high fences. This is one of those mansions — a breathtaking historic building that has been transformed into a sumptuous spa resort. The hammam treatments are the biggest draw, but there are also excellent restaurants and bars on site. Venture outside the gates and you’ll find all the high-end boutiques and eateries you would expect in the city’s most desirable neighbourhood.
3. Lujo, Bodrum
£££ | SPA | POOL | Best for a unique break
Lujo is a family-run hotel, but don’t expect any kitsch or outdated decor here. The emphasis is on minimal cool, paired with extensive luxury services including a spa offering high-end treatments as well as the traditional Turkish hammam. There are also eight different restaurants offering various cuisines, all with views over the stunning Bodrum coastline. The store here is something different to the average hotel shopping experience too, offering goods from international and local designers.
4. Hillside Beach Club, Fethiye
Hillside Beach Club
BRITISH AIRWAYS HOLIDAYS
• Best things to do in Fethiye
5. Macakizi, Bodrum
£££ | SPA | POOL | Best for laid-back vibes
This hotel is actually a collection of villas on one of the most beautiful of Bodrum’s peninsulas and was opened in the 1970s as a hangout for writers and artists. Times have changed, as has Bodrum — these days Macakizi’s patrons include the likes of supermodel Kate Moss and any number of sheikhs and oligarchs, who moor their yachts in the nearby marina. But the laid-back vibe remains, enhanced by its lush gardens, private beach and elegantly designed interiors. The hotel has its own speedboat, which you can rent for the day to take you to other parts of this lovely area.
6. Mardius Tarihi Konak, Mardin
Mardius Tarihi Konak
BOOKING.COM
££ | Best for romance
If you are taking the time to head to Mardin, a magical sandstone city built into a cliff in eastern Turkey, stay in the best place in town. This 700-year-old building is one of Mardin’s grandest, its palatial stone-walled rooms fitted out with wrought-iron beds, antique furniture and silk rugs. Sip a glass of the famous local red wine on the terrace as the sun sets over the Mesopotamian plain and sample the food in the award-winning restaurant. Weekend breaks don’t come more romantic or unusual than this.
7. Asteria Kremlin Palace, Antalya
Asteria Kremlin Palace
BOOKING.COM
£££ | SPA | POOL | Best for all-inclusive
Let’s start with a disclaimer: this place is ridiculous. A replica of Red Square in Moscow but with a swimming pool wedged between the Kremlin and St Basil’s Cathedral, it is an all-inclusive resort aimed, unsurprisingly, at Russian tourists. But if you’ve had enough of po-faced cool, there are worse places to spend two weeks in the sun, particularly if you have children, who will love the surreal fun of water-sliding with the onion domes as a backdrop. It has a private beach too and is only a short drive from the airport.
• Best places to visit in Turkey
• Best luxury villas in Turkey
8. Rixos Premium Belek, Antalya
£££ | SPA | POOL | Best for fly and flop
A sprawling five-star resort incorporating a golf club, eight restaurants, a private beach and a spa. If you want a relaxing break without having to leave your hotel you will find everything you need here. The Belek district is package-holiday central, so there isn’t much to see in the immediate surroundings if you are feeling more energetic, but Antalya city centre is close by. Children are well catered for too, with a kids’ club and football academy offering training by professional players for ages 6 to 14.
• Best things to do in Antalya
9. Hotel Hal-Tur, Denizli
£ | SPA | POOL | Best for spa
The inland Aegean town of Denizli has been known for its thermal springs since antiquity, as the nearby ruins of ancient Hierapolis attest. There are dozens of spa resorts but this one wins on the strength of its facilities: there are five thermal pools, indoor and outdoor, together with a regular swimming pool, as well as Turkish baths and a health spa with treatments spanning medical and aesthetic. The decor is a little dated but rooms are large, well equipped and comfortable.
• Best hotels with waterparks in Turkey
10. Avalon Hotel, Fethiye
£ | POOL | Best for unmatched views
Founded and run by a couple from the UK, this hotel — actually a cluster of 11 luxury bungalows — sits high on a cliff above Kabak Bay, with unmatched views of the Mediterranean. It is a 20-minute walk to the beach and a long haul back up, but even if you decide to stay at the hotel and lounge by the infinity pool you won’t feel as though you’ve wasted the day. The local area is a famous spot for paragliding and snorkelling, which the staff can organise for you.
11. Olympos Mountain Lodge, Antalya
Olympos Mountain Lodge
BOOKING.COM
££ | POOL | Best for sustainability
A chalet set in a huge garden and olive grove 900m up on the Olympos mountain, this hotel has a stunning panorama of the Mediterranean and is slap-bang in the middle of the famous Lycian way hiking trail. Its ethos is sustainability — still a fairly novel concept in Turkey — and its restaurant, run by a London-trained cordon bleu chef, uses local ingredients and strives for minimum waste. One of the owners is a professional yoga teacher and offers private lessons in the sedate surrounds.
12. Gamirasu Cave Hotel, Cappadocia
Gamirasu Cave Hotel
BOOKING.COM
££ | POOL | Best for Disney vibes
From the outside it looks like something from a Disney film but once you’re inside it’s easy to forget that this high-end hotel is actually a cave. This one was a monastery in Byzantine times and retains some original features, including sumptuous frescos. The pricier rooms have whirlpool bathtubs and fireplaces, while the basic ones are more rustic and arguably offer a more authentic cave experience. There are regular shuttle buses to Cappadocia’s national park, where you can hike among the “fairy chimneys”, strange natural rock formations.
13. Bey Evi Hotel, Alacati
£ | POOL | Best for adults
The northern Aegean coast is where well-heeled Turks go on holiday, and this old stone hotel — actually two Greek houses that have been joined together — is a great place to pass a few days living like a local. With only children over 12 allowed, the atmosphere is adult and chic, with stone walls, parquet floors and mismatched furniture. For evenings out head to the nearby centre of town, a lively and charming place with scores of pavement bars and cafés. The surrounding beaches are pristine but get very busy in high season.
14. Terrace Houses, Sirince
££ | Best for convenience
A row of four traditional stone cottages in the picture-perfect Aegean hill village of Sirince, famous for its crooked streets and fruit wines, this offers a perfect balance between the privacy of self-contained accommodation and the convenience of a hotel. The complex includes a café serving complimentary breakfast, light meals throughout the day, and candlelit dinners when the sun goes down. Sirince is packed with small shops selling local organic produce, and the beach and the ruins of Ephesus are a short drive away.
15. Ayder Avusor Boutique Hotel, Rize
Ayder Avusor Boutique Hotel
EXPEDIA
££ | Best for simple stays
The verdant, mountainous Black Sea region is the centre of Turkish ecotourism but most accommodation is in self-catering cabins. This place, among dramatic peaks close to the Ayder hot springs, is a rare exception. Simple and family-run, rooms are very basic but the included breakfast is full of local delicacies, which you can enjoy on the terrace in nice weather. The setting, deep in the forest and next to the river, is exquisite and makes it a great base for trekking to the nearby waterfalls.
• Best all-inclusive hotels in Turkey
• Best family hotels in Turkey
Additional reporting by Julie Alpine
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